Lancaster Bible College, and the Lancaster Bible College Athletic Department, have announced that Women's Volleyball Head Coach Micah Herron will step down effective September 15, and be replaced by current assistant coach Julie Brubaker. Brubaker will become the 12th coach in program history.
 
The 2020 season is the third for Herron, and he leaves after two successful seasons at the helm of the Chargers. Herron compiled an overall record of 37-25 (.597) over the course of two years, and also helped the Chargers to a 16-6 record in North Eastern Athletic Conference play. The 2018 squad advanced to the program's first-ever NEAC Final, before falling to Morrisville State in the championship match.
 
Herron coached six NEAC All-Conference selections, including Allison Shuey who was named to the NEAC All-Conference First Team in 2018. The 2019 team was honored with the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award, as the Chargers were one of 212 NCAA Division III schools that boasted a 3.30 grade-point average or higher during the season.
 
"I'm incredibly grateful to have been a part of the staff at Lancaster Bible," Herron said. "I want to thank Pete Beers for believing in me and trusting me to lead the program over these past few years."
 
Herron said he is thrilled Brubaker will be taking the reins of the program, and believes the program will continue to flourish.
 
"I'm excited for Julie and the kids that things will stay relatively the same, but at the same time, very excited to see where this program can get to," Herron said. "Julie's volleyball IQ is extremely high, and she will not only help the ladies on the floor, but she has had so much spiritual growth, that she will be a rock for them off the floor as well."
 
Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics Pete Beers is proud of the job Herron did over the past two seasons, both on and off the floor.
 
"Micah's start was pretty rushed when he took over the head coaching job, but he adapted, and related to the team very well," Beers said. "He is a passionate person, and he provided stability to this program over the past two years, and I can't thank him enough for that. We wish him and his family well, and are excited for the work he will be pursuing."
 
And while the program is sad to see Herron depart, the entrance of Brubaker as head coach is another step in the right direction for the women's volleyball program at Lancaster Bible. Brubaker has previous head coaching experience at Cairn University, where she served as head coach from 2004-08, and again in 2010, and was also in charge of the men's program for a few years as well. Brubaker also had a head coaching stint at NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange in 2011-12. In her six seasons at the helm of the Highlanders in Langhorne, Pa., Brubaker compiled a record of 135-81 (.625), including the 2007 season when Cairn went 30-9, won the NEAC Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
 
Since returning to Lancaster with her husband Jade and their children in 2013, as Jade took over the Lancaster Bible Men's Volleyball program, Brubaker has served as an assistant coach to three different head coaches here at Lancaster Bible. In that time, she has continued to gain knowledge about the game, and is excited to re-find her footing as a head coach.
 
"I think one of the advantages of being an assistant coach is getting to see what works and what doesn't," Brubaker said. "I am going to try and take things I've learned from each coach, as well as from Jade, and apply them to this program. I thought Micah did an incredible job with the spiritual side of this program, and I hope to continue that. As far as volleyball goes, the game continues to change, and I think we will continue to try our best to be at the best level possible."
 
Like Herron, Brubaker remarked that she believes the program's goals and purpose will remain consistent through the coaching change, thus providing stability for the team members.
 
"Micah has built a solid foundation, and we certainly have similarities in the way we coach," Brubaker said. "I am looking to build on our team culture, and make it my own."
 
Brubaker said she is ready to take on the role of head coach once again, and feels it is the right timing for her family.
 
"I've been happy to serve as an assistant here at Lancaster Bible, but with Micah leaving, I thought it was good timing for where our family, and with these types of decisions, it is always God's timing, and I believe I am being led to be the coach here."
 
Beers said he was thrilled when Brubaker told him the timing was now right for her to possibly lead the women's volleyball program.
 
"Julie is a terrific coach, and has been for a really long time," Beers said. "She brings so much knowledge of the game, and I can't wait to see her lead this program. I think I am most excited to see her build a God-honoring program, and to see where she can lead these ladies."
 
As is the case with all of the fall athletic programs here at Lancaster Bible, the women's volleyball team hopes to continue practicing in the next few weeks and throughout the fall semester.